Explaining the title: I am thirty-something Latino who has a fondness for the Japanese culture and speak Spanglish--Spanish and English. Some people say "Span-English" so I mixed it with "Engrish," which is how some Japanese pronounce English.

Monday, November 14

Dream Casting: Doom Patrol

There is no news that Doom Patrol will be adapted into a film, but I think the comics has potential. Doom Patrol is a DC comics in 1963 that has a lot of resemblance to X-Men. So much that the creators have noted this. A group of mutants or freaks lead by a man in a wheelchair that goes against the Brotherhood of Evil. Even similarities to Fantastic Four. The current Doom Patrol has changed since and included Teen Titans staple Beast Boy. Since the X-Men franchise is imploding, Warner Bros and DC Comics could grow on Doom Patrol. A potential adaption can focus on how disenfranchised the group is and given a purpose after being rejected.

The Chief

Dr. Niles Caulder is a paraplegic gifted with a genius-level intellect. Caulder uses his scientific knowledge to develop numerous inventions and innovations that have made him wealthy. To make it different, I would change the Chief to a female, maybe Gina Tores, best known for Angel, Firefly and Westworld and also being wife to Laurence Fishburne. She has a wonderful charisma, humor and mother-like grandiose. In the comics, he is generally powerless but at one point gains Kryptonian powers but in the end, I would leave the Chief just a super genius. I guess I would call her Nancy Caulder.

Robotman

Cliff Steele became Robotman, initially dubbed Automaton, after a race car accident destroyed his body. Caulder subsequently placed Cliff's intact brain into a robotic body. After the operation, Cliff suffered from frequent depression. In my version, he would be called Automaton because Robotman is too clunky of a name. Caulder would be responsible of the accident but not race car but of a prototype rocket. Teddy Sears did a great job as Zoom in The Flash but I think he could call sympathy as a man disconnected and not feeling like a man. Also I would love to see him as a robot, malfunctioning and perfectly built.

Negative Man

Larry Trainor sees himself as a victim as much as a hero, and his superpower as an infection rather than a blessing. He is accidentally exposed to a radioactive field in the atmosphere while piloting a test plane. This experience leaves him radioactive himself, but also gives him the ability to release a negatively charged energy being from his body; the being, also referred to as Negative Man. In later comics, he can surround himself with it so I would have both abilities. Since he is mostly in bandages, he can be any actor. Who he has such a great voice is Luke Hemsworth.

Elasti-Girl

Rita Farr is exposed to unusual volcanic gases and discovers that she can expand or shrink her body at will—from hundreds of feet tall to mere inches in height. When she gains greater control of her powers, she discovers that she can enlarge one limb at a time. In the comics, she was an actress but I would change it to a work-a-day job. She would be the audience surrogate, more like a regular person. Since the Incredibles had an Elasti-Girl, here she could be called Elasti-Woman, Elasti-Lady or Miss Elastic. Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men would be a good fit as she is plucky, funny and can 'bring the feels.'

Element Woman

Emily Sung could transform her body into any of the elements naturally found in the human body and shape them at her will. She can change her hair color using metals, and she can create silicate faces that fall off after a while. She uses the faces for ashtrays. She is not an original member but I think she would be useful. She has had different origins in the comics but in this version she can a snarker and strong character. Kat Dennings (2 Broke Girls, Thor) is a defiant snarker.